State and condition of dead bodies

Black Mesa Archive The Cafeteria
#1

In my first playthrough, I noticed that all the dead bodies (I’m not certain it’s actually 100%) strewn throughout Black Mesa are whole and intact. I think there should be numerous instances where dead bodies should have missing limbs or being torn in half, either across the waist or head-to-crotch or diagonally. I did notice coming across appendages on their own, a leg here, an arm over there which one would expect to find, considering the circumstances.

Also, whenever I came across a Zombie or a Bullsquid in the process of feeding, the human body was always intact. It could be a situation where the feeding process had just begun, but there should also be instances where it may have begun some time earlier. In that case, the body should be partially consumed and not whole. How about Xenians feeding on HECU marines? Maybe not, to avoid sympathetic feelings towards the HECU? Screw the sympathy factor. They should be on the menu as well. What better way to fill your belly than devouring someone who just killed your fellow Xenian buddy?

Also, are there any instances of unconscious humans having an active headcrab on its head, other than shortly after the resonance cascade event? A headcrab on an unconscious female would be appropriate as well. These types of scenarios should be found throughout Black Mesa. How about on a HECU marine? Sympathy reasons, again? Mmmmm.

Now, I’m not a macabre person, just thinking of ways to deepen the immersion factor on a monumental and tragic event.

Maybe some of these observances/suggestions can be incorporated into future patches/possible further game development.

#2

Remember the surgical unit?

#3

Considering the remarkably high quality gore on the Zombie models, especially the faces, I’d have to say I agree. Would have been nice to see a couple dedicated corpse models.

#4

I said this elsewhere, but it probably bears mention here as well - do you think it would make sense for Black Mesa to use L4D2 style mutilation and dismemberment? Or would it be kind of creepy to do that to people who where actually talking to you up until your blew out chunks of their heads?

#5

Only if it wouldn’t be a terrible drain on resources and performance, I’d say.

#6

It would also be a freakishly huge effort. You need a separate model for EVERY combination of limb and head blown off. Do the math.

I doubt the devs would deem that to be an efficient use of their time.

#7

Black Mesa is not really a gore-centric game. L4D2 has a very clever system (you can read about it here: https://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2010/gdc2010_vlachos_l4d2wounds.pdf) but ultimately it still requires upwards of 12 “gore” models and a lot of custom shader/code support. Plus, zombie mutilation is the whole point of their entire game… this is an important thing for them to get right.

Black Mesa has to juggle a lot of other more important factors, but we did still make our own custom gib system… see here: https://wiki.blackmesasource.com/Gib_System

Our system is extremely simple to implement into any model… you simply indicate the hitpoints, type of gibbing and what other models should spawn out of it. These models in turn can spawn other models, which can spawn other models, to an unlimited degree. The limitation is it doesn’t support partial gibbing, it’s either BOOM explosion of bodyparts or nothing at all.

Personally I’m not a huge fan of our torso gib model, all limbs neatly clipped off of it and the torso itself untouched… but all it would take is some dedicated and twisted modeler from our community to make us a new one and we could switch it out no problem B)

#8

I’ve seen some limbs lying in the floor and blood prints near them. Also in some levels controlled by the HECU you can see bulletholes near the bodies of the Black Mesa personnel, I loved that detail.

#9

I thought this was an issue with the models for Half Life 2 style NPCs being unable to be ‘chopped up’ or decapitated? It’s either a whole body or bits and pieces, not both as far as I can see.

I agree I would have loved to see decapitated, missing limbed or cut in half bodies, but I’m sure it’s just not possible to do with the models, otherwise it would have been done before.

#10

I personally saw probably a dozen bodies scattered around that were piles of limbs. I actually didn’t think every single body was whole and intact.

#11

I was saddened when that security guard was gibbed by the laser in Unforeseen Consequences. I was hoping for him to get sliced in half.

#12

I can see what you mean by this, but I can’t help but feel a little disturbed by the request itself.

#13

i would of liked him sliced up the middle, james bond stylee

#14

Personally I think it’s disgusting how lazy the devs have been. They should have spent at least the last 4 years perfecting the gibbing for models. I want to be able to pull off the clothes of a grunt and then knock off his penis with my crowbar and then proceed to shoot off each individual finger as he flailed around in agony. If I could gouge out his eyes with my thumbs and then pull out his teeth with the end of the crowbar I would be satisfied.

You have ruined black mesa for me and you have ruined the entire half life experience! I HATE YOU DEVS!

#15

i dunno 'bout all that… but i’m game for the penis addition

#16

I wasn’t gonna’ say nuthin’! :slight_smile: But, yeah, that torso did throw me off a bit. It’s as you say - the torso looks so pristine it actually comes off a bit like a clothes mannequin. Really, though, the gibbing system isn’t bad. I bring up L4D2 just because it’s probably the best example I’ve seen pretty much anywhere, but I can easily see how that might require a ridiculous effort that’s plain not worth it. And considering what the original Half-Life had (toss random internal parts in all direction), you’ve done quite well, I’d say. And, hey, Black Mesa doesn’t have any instances of gibbing one guy and getting three skulls in the pile. I’m less concerned with him having three heads and more with where the two I wasn’t seeing were.

The gib system actually reminds me a tad of UT2003, in the sense that it’s mostly it takes limbs off at the joints, though hearing you need separate models for it surprises me. Would not have called that. And in UT2003, I actually turned off model dismemberment because I enjoyed watching the ragdolls ragdollise more :slight_smile: So, yeah, I’m not that demanding of gibbing and would probably not have minded if it didn’t exist in the first place. That guard that gets cut in half by the laser really ought to get cut in half, though.

Oh, speaking of the Unforeseen Conequences guard - the previous laser that cuts up a large machine doesn’t seem to cut it in any way that resembles its path. Just wanted to point this out.

#17

are there plans to “upgrate” the gib system currently in use to a more inmersive one? (kinda like L4D2)

#18

I doubt it. That would require tons of work that isn’t really necessary.

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.